Process of densifying a nitrohydrocarbon composition.



siren rarest anion.

FRIEDRICH JOHANN HEINRICH ROEWER, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THEE. I. DU FONT DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,A'OORPO-- RATION OF NEW JERSEY PROCESS OF DENSIFYING A NITEGHYDBOCARBONCOMPOSITION.

Applieation filed August 13, 1908. Serial No. 44.3358.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 1651909 been observed that when fused trinitrotoluol ispoured into the shells, after the substance has set, it has a lesserspecific gravity than picric acid. A number of propositions have soonmade for increasing the specific gravity of trinitrotoluol. Thus it hasbeen proposed to increase the density of trinitrotoluol by heavypressure or by the addition of dinitrotoluol. The pressing is slow andexpensive, and moreover, the addition of dinitrotoluol is only amakeshift, as it is considered of great moment to not use any mixturefor loading bombs, but only a simple chemical substance.

I have found that nitrotoluol and other suitable nitrohydrocarbons canbe obtained of a satisfactory density, as for example 1.6, in a verysimple manner and without additi on of other compounds, when thesubstance, heated somewhat above its fusion point, is poured into areceptacle chilled to 0 centi grade, by inserting a papertube or funnelin the opening of the receptacle, thereby extending the pouring channelvertically, and delivering the substance in through this, permittingitto back up in the paper tube, so that the pressure produced by thisextra column of material gives a denser casting, in analogy, to metalfoundry practice; the excess being removed after the substance iscooled.

' in French Patent #369,371 and in British the nitrohydrocarbons,den'sified by pressure, .may have their density still furthermcreased ina small degree if the mass is chilled during the pressing. But thesepatents fail to- Patent #19215 of 1906, it is set forth that 2 disclosemy discovery that a density useful for technical purposes can beproduced with:

out the use of pressure.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1 The process of densifying a nitro-hydrocarbon composition for use incharging pro-- jectiles, consisting in introducing the composition,while in a molten condition, into-a previously chilled receptacle,substantially described.

2. The process of densifying a nitro-hydr0-, carbon composition for usein charging proectiles, consisting in subjecting the same, while in amolten condition, to sudden chilling while maintaining the same freefrom pressure other than that of the composition itself, substantiallyas described.

3. The process of densit'yinga intro-hydrocarbon composition for use incharging pnojectiles, consisting in subjectingthe same, while in amolten condition, to asudden chilling and to the pressure of a columnofthe said composition extending above-the part thereof being densified,and maintaining the composition to be densified otherwise free frompressure, substantially as described.

In testimony of which invention,-I have hereunto set my hand, atHamburg, on this 23 day of July, 1908.

FRIED [Hail JOHANN HEINRICH ROEWER.

